The emergence of Chris Connor as a singer began when Stan Kenton engaged her as his featured orchestra vocalist in 1953. With her uncanny vocal resemblance to June Christy, she immediately burst onto the national scene. Tall, blonde Chris was becoming one of the select corps of younger girl vocalists, and in the fall of that year she left the bandleader and began building a reputation as a single on the eastern club circuit, soon signing an exclusive contract with the then-new Bethlehem Records label.
Her good sense of dynamics and ability to feel ballad lines and lyrics as well as uptempo romps convincingly, made an immediately identifiable impact. And her taste, style and intelligent analysis of a lyric are to be found in this collection of songs. Chris handled her voice as a musician does his horn.
Tracklist
Total time: 98:19 min.
CD 1
01. Blue Silhouette 2:43
02. Misers Serenade 2:43
03. Ask Me 2:43
04. Chiquita From Chi-Wah-Wah 2:46
05. Everything I Love 2:15
06. Indian Summer 2:55
07. What Is There To Say? 2:51
08. I Hear Music 2:18
09. Come Back To Sorrento 2:44
10. Why Shouldnt I? 2:43
11. Try A Little Tenderness 3:02
12. Lullaby Of Birdland 2:22
13. All About Ronnie 2:57
14. Spring Is Here 2:53
15. Out Of This World 2:54
16. Lush Life 2:53
17. A Cottage For Sale 2:33
18. How Long Has This Been Going On? 2:32
CD 2
01. Goodbye 2:32
02. Stella By Starlight 2:25
03. Gone With The Wind 2:18
04. Hes Coming Home 2:42
05. Blame It On My Mouth 2:37
06. Ridin High 4:12
07. Its All Right With Me 2:26
08. All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart 1:49
09. Trouble Is A Man 2:51
10. All This And Heaven Too 3:27
11. From This Moment On 2:28
12. The Thrill Is Gone 2:45
13. Someone To Watch Over You 3:09
14. I Concentrate On You 3:28
15. Dont Wait Up For Me 2:33
16. A Good Man Is A Seldom Thing 3:24
17. In Other Words (Fly Me To The Moon) 3:08
Album details
Sources:
CD 1, 1 & 2 on the 78rpm Bethlehem 1291
CD 1, 3 & 4 on the 78rpm Bethlehem 1293
CD 1, 5 & 6 on the 12” LP BCP-56 "Chris"
CD 1, 7-14 on the 10” album BCP-1001 "Sings Lullabys of Birdland"
CD 1, 15-19 on the 10” album BCP-1002 "Sings Lullabys for Lovers"
CD 2, 1-4 10” album BCP-1002 "Sings Lullabys for Lovers"
CD 2, 5-14 on the 12” album BCP-20 "This is Chris"
CD 2, 15-17 on the 12” album BCP-56 "Chris"
Personnel on CD 1
Tracks #1-6: Chris Connor accompanied by Sy Oliver’s Orchestra
Jimmy Nottingham, Jim Bright, Melvin Solomon, trumpets; Kai Winding, Vern Friley, Frank Saracco, Ward Silloway, trombones; Sid Cooper, Milt Yaner, alto saxes; Boomie Richman, Sam “The Man” Taylor, tenor saxes; Dave McRae, baritone sax; Dave Martin, piano; Sid Bloch, bass; Jimmy Crawford, drums. New York, December 17 & 18, 1953
Tracks #7-14: Chris Connor with the Ellis Larkins Trio
Ellis Larkins, piano; Everett Barksdale, guitar; Beverly Peer, bass. New York, August 9, 10 & 11, 1954
Tracks #15-18: Chris Connor with Vinnie Burke’s Quartet
Ron Odrich, flue & clarinet; Don Burns, accordion; Joe Cinderella, guitar; Vinnie Burke, bass; Art Mardigan, drums. New York, August 21, 1954
Personnel on CD 2
Tracks #1-4: Chris Connor with Vinnie Burke’s Quartet
Ron Odrich, flute & clarinet; Don Burns, accordion; Joe Cinderella, guitar; Vinnie Burke, bass; Art Mardigan, drums. New York, August 21, 1954
Tracks #5-17: Chris Connor with Ralph Sharon’s Quintet
Herbie Mann, flute; Ralph Sharon, piano; Joe Puma, guitar; Milt Hinton, bass; Osie Johnson, drums. Featuring Kay Winding & J.J. Johnson, trombones added on #11 to 17. New York, April 1955
All LP covers by Burt Goldblatt
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
